Muzio Clementi (1752-1832) Italian pianist and composer for the pianoforte, and teacher, born in Rome. He was brought to England in 1766 by Peter Beckford, MP. He conducted the Italian Opera in London (1777-80), toured as a virtuoso in 1781, and later went into the piano-manufacturing business. In 1817 he wrote the Gradus ad Parnassum, on which subsequent piano methods have been based, and he left many charming and tuneful pieces